[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Tewfik Pasha to
Mr. Leishman.
The
Sublime Porte, Office of Foreign
Affairs,
August 15,
1904.
Mr. Envoy: I have received the note that
you have been kind enough to address to me under date of August 13
current.
The decision taken by the Imperial Government on the subject of its
contents, and communicated to your excellency by my letter of the
12th of this month, was worded as follows:
“I have looked into the subject of the various communications which
your excellency has done me the honor to address to me regarding
American institutions in Turkey, the elevation of the respective
legations to the rank of embassies, and the property of Madame Lane
in Smyrna.
“In reply, I can assure your excellency that in view of the cordial
relations which exist so happily between the two States, it has
never entered into the intention of the Imperial Government to treat
upon a different footing the schools, the institutions, and the
citizens of the United States in the Empire.
“Consequently, for those of these establishments whose legal
existence is not recognized, the competent department, as soon as
the demand shall be made to it, will fulfill the necessary
formalities conformably to the conditions and to the prescriptions
of the regulations in force.
“As regards the elevation of the two legations to the rank of
embassies, the friendly desire expressed on this subject by His
Excellency the President of the United States corresponds entirely
with the sentiments of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, but in
consequence of budgetary considerations, it is preferable to defer
this question to a more opportune moment.
“In regard to the farm of Madame Lane, the price—that is, 5,000
Turkish pounds—will be paid by the Ottoman Bank as soon as the
transfer shall be effected in the name of the Imperial
Government.”
In confirming the contents of my aforesaid letter I have the honor to
declare to your excellency that the Imperial Government has no
intention of deviating from the decision taken by it in this
respect.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Leishman to
Tewfik Pasha.
American Legation,
Constantinople, August 16, 1904.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt this morning of your excellency’s unnumbered
note, dated the 15th instant, in regard to the principle of equality
of treatment for American institutions in Turkey as compared with
those of any other nation, the matter of the respective embassies,
and the purchase by the Imperial Ottoman Government of Mrs. Lane’s
[Page 831]
property. Your
excellency’s said note embodies in full your note of the 12th
instant, to which, in concluding the above matters, I had the honor
to reply by my note of the 13th instant.
While thanking your excellency for the renewed assurances which you
give me recognizing the principle of equality of treatment as above
mentioned, I have to repeat that in these matters I put confidence
in the good faith and sincere intentions of His Imperial Majesty’s
Government with the full expectation that the engagements which it
has undertaken will be promptly and faithfully executed.
I take this occasion to renew, etc.,
